An additional ½ cent sales tax will bring WBR’s tax rate up to 9.5% - higher than ANY adjacent parish. EBR and Iberville are 9%; Point Coupe, East Feliciana, and West Feliciana are 8%.

A 9.5% tax rate will kill any chance for WBR to attract “big box” retail.

The sales tax rate in Brazoria County, Texas is 6.75% and Texas has NO state income tax. If WBR’s sales tax rate is increased, where do you think the next plant expansion will be built?

If the sales tax rate is increased, WBR residents will shop elsewhere, and parish revenues will go DOWN, not up. Tax increases ALWAYS cause people to change their behavior – “if you want more of something, subsidize it; if you want less of something, tax it” (Ronald Reagan).

The WBR Sheriff’s Office is funded by a dedicated 16.1 ad valorem tax. Over the past 20 years, due to several major plant expansions, the total assessed value of taxable property in WBR has increased from $131.4 million to $399.4 million (source: WBR parish archives), not including several million in “public service” assessments that also generate taxes for the Sheriff’s Office. This represents a 300+% increase in tax revenues for the Sheriff’s office from 1995 to today. How can the Sheriff possibly need extra funding?

Over the past 20 years, the population of WBR has increased by only 1,600 people – roughly 7.5% (NOT 25% as the sheriff is claiming); (source – US Census Bureau). Yes, there has been growth in places like the Sugar Mill subdivision in Addis, but other areas of WBR have lost population. And, by the way, the Addis Police Department, NOT the Sheriff’s Office, provides law enforcement protection for Sugar Mill.

The WBR Sheriff’s Office has ALWAYS operated with a surplus. This was one of Sheriff Mike’s main arguments in support of his re-election. Why does he now claim to need more money? Doesn’t add up.

Over the past 20 years, total inflation has been 55.3%, but median income has only increased by 3.2% during the same time, and over the past 7 years, median income has actually fallen by 8.4%, meaning, on average, you now have $400 less to spend each month compared to what you had in 2007 (source – US Department of Commerce). Everything you buy costs more, but you have less money to pay for it.